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Sturgeon County Supports FCM Broadband Campaign

Sturgeon County, Alberta - Reliable, affordable Internet is a necessity that many communities lack. Fixing this imbalance is the heart of a new campaign being launched by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) in their push to bring high-speed broadband and mobile Internet to all communities.

With many communities still relying on dial-up and spotty mobile connections, up to two million Canadians are faced with daily barriers to accessing government services, joining in the digital economy and connecting with the rest of the country.

“Access to fast, reliable internet is a critical infrastructure that supports business development and collaboration. Businesses need it to conduct operations, residents need it, our kids need it for education,” said Sturgeon County Mayor, Alanna Hnatiw.

FCM’s campaign calls for a national strategy that couples measurable targets with long-term, predictable funding while ensuring affordability reigns. To get there, this plan calls for a significant investment from the federal government of at least $400 million per year over the next 10 years.

Sturgeon County and Morinville initiated a joint study of Broadband Analysis this year to review the current state of the broadband infrastructure. The project is supported by a grant through the Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program. This is a first step towards enhancing the network for stakeholders in the region.

“We are making efforts to close the broadband gap, and we will continue to work to address the need through our own diligence and increased advocacy to all levels of government,” said Mayor Hnatiw.

FCM is the national voice of local government, with 2,000 members representing 91 per cent of Canada’s population; Sturgeon County is an active FCM member.